C13: from Old French venger, from Latin vindicāre; see vindicate
avenge in British English
(əˈvɛndʒ)
verb
(usually tr)
to inflict a punishment in retaliation for (harm, injury, etc) done to (a person or persons); take revenge for or on behalf of
to avenge a crime
to avenge a murdered friend
▶ USAGE The use of avenge with a reflexive pronoun was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable:she avenged herself on the man who killed her daughter
Derived forms
avenger (aˈvenger)
noun
avengeress (aˈvengeress)
feminine noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French avengier, from vengier, from Latin vindicāre; see vengeance, vindicate